(optionally 17-alkylated) androst-3-ene-5beta, 17beta-diols and esters thereof



3,183,253 (OPTIONALLY 17-ALKYLATED) ANDROST-El-ENE 5,B,17.[3-DIOLS AND ESTERS THEREOF Paul D. Klimstra, Northbrook, Illr, assignor to G. D. Searle & Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing.

6 Claims. (Cl. 260-397.5)

The invention herein described isconcerned with novel S-hydroxy steroids of the androstane series and especially with the (optionally l7-alkylated) andmst-3-ene-SBJ7B- diols and esters derived therefrom, said compounds represented by the structural formula H wherein R can-be hydrogen or a i (lower alkyl) I radical, and X is symbolic of hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical.

The lower alkyl radicals encompassed in the foregoing structural representation are those within the scope of the formula n Zn-t-I wherein R is hydrogen or a t l (lower alkyl) radical, and X'oan be hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical. Epoxidation of those materials, typically with alkaline hydrogen peroxide, affords the corresponding 413,5;3-epoxy derivatives, containing a trace of the lain-epoxy isomer. The reaction of l7B-hyd roxyandrost-4-en-3-one, for ex-' ample, with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and methanol results in 4,8,5/3-epoxy-l7,8-l1ydroxyandrostan-3-one. Those epoxy intermediates are transformed into the Sfi-hydroxy- A compounds of the present invention by a process which involves heating with hydrazine hydrate at the .refiux temperature for a relatively short period of time. The aforementioned 4fi,5,B-epoxy-17fl-hydroxyandrostan-3-one, typically, is heated with hydrazine hydrate, and the resulting product is isolated to yield androst-3-ene-5p,17B-diol.

An alternate method for the preparation of esters of Filed Aug. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 304,247

' United States Patent the instant compounds containing a secondary hydroxy group at the 17-position involves the acylation of those Thenovel compounds-of this invention are characterizedjby valuable pharmacological properties. They dis play hormonal activity, forexample, as is evidenced by their ability t'o evoke anabolic and androgenicresponses;

The followingexa-mples illustrate in further detail some of the compounds which constitute this invention together with methods for their preparation. The invention, however, is not to be construed as limited thereby either in spirit or in scope as many modifications both in materials and methods can be adapted without departing from the invention herein described. In these examples, temperatures are indicated in degrees centigrade C.) and quantities of materials in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 To a solution of 20 parts of 17B-hydroxyandrost-4-en- 3-one in 480 parts of cold methanol is added successively 132 parts of cold 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide and 40 parts by volume ,of cold 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide. The'resulting reaction mixture is kept at about 3' for about2 days, then ispoured carefully into water.

That aqueous mixture is extracted several times with methylene chloride, and the, organic layer isseparated, Washed successivelywith water, 10% aqueous sodium carbonate, and-Water, then isdried'over anhydrous potassium carbonate. Removal of the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure affords an oil which solidifies on standing." Recrystallization of that solid material from-- acetone-hexane resultsim 4,3,5/3-QPOXY-17,3fhYClIfOXYflI1- drostan-B-one, melting at about l56-158 and characterized further by an optical rotation of +13? .5 in chloroform. I f V 'r Example 2 To a'solution of 30 parts of l7fi-hydroxy-l7a-methy ahdrost-4-en-3-one in 720' parts of methanol is added successively 198 parts of cold 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide and 60 parts by volume of cold. 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide. After standing at about 3 for about 2 days, that reaction mixture is filtered to remove a small amount of insoluble material, then is poured carefully into a mixture of ice and water. The gummy precipitate which forms is collected by filtration and extracted into meth-.

Example 3 By substituting 31.4 parts of 17u-ethylel7fi-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3 one and .otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 2, 4/8,5B-epoxy-17aethyl-l7fi-hydroxyandrostanw3-one is obtained.

Example 4 The substitution of 34.2 parts 'of l7lfl-aC6t0XY-17ormethyIandrost-4-en-3-one in the procedure described in Example '2 results in l7B-acetoxy,-4;8,5 8-epoxy-Ho -methylandrostan-S-one.

' Example 5 A mixture of 2 parts of 418,5;8-epoxyfl7fi hydroxyandrostan-3-one and 30.9 parts of 100% hydrazine hydrate is heated at about for about 10 minutes, during which Patented May v1 1, 1965 time the mixture gradually becomes homogeneous. Heating of this deep yellow solution is continued at the reflux temperature for about 15 minutes, after which time the reaction mixture is cooled and diluted with about 30 parts of water. Further cooling of this aqueous mixture results in precipitation of a solid which is extracted into a 2:1 ether-methanol solution. That organic solution is Washed twice with water, then is dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate containing decolorizing carbon. Removal of the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure results in a gummy residue, which is recrystallized from aqueous methanol to afford a hydrate of androst-B-ene- 5 3,17p-diol, melting at about 100. Drying of that bydrate alfords the anhydrous compound as a glass. That compound is represented by the structural formula H CH5 Example 6 A mixture of 28 parts of 4,8,5fi-epoxy-17 p-hydroxy-17amethylandrostan-3-one and 257.5 parts of 100% hydrazine hydrate is heated at the reflux temperature for about 30 minutes. The reaction mixture initially becomes homogeneous, but an oil settles out during the heating period. The upper layer is decanted into water, resulting in precipitation of the crude product. This solid is collected by filtration and Washed with Water, then dried to afford 17a-methylandrost3-ene-5,B,17fl-dio1.

The oily layer is dissolved in methanol, and this organic solution is poured into a mixture of ice and water. The precipitate which forms is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water, then recrystallized from aqueous methanol to yield an additional quantity of 170:- methy1androst-3-ene-5fi,17B-diol, melting at about 163.- 165. It is represented by the structural formula OH I Example 7 --CH,CH;

4- Example 8 The substitution of 31.7 parts of 17fl-acetoxy-4fl,5fiepoxy-17a-methylandrostan 3 one in the procedure of Example 6 results in 17a-methylandrost- 3 -ene-5p,17fldiol l7-acetate, represented by the structural formula OCOCHa CH3 Example 9 the structural formula O C O OH; on?

Example 10 By substituting 19.1 parts of propionic anhydride and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 9, androst-3-ene-5fl,l7,B-di0l 17-propionate of the structural formula OCOCHgCH; CHa

is obtained.

What is claimed is: v 1. A compound of the formula 0R CH3 5 6 wherein R is a member of the class consisting of hydro- 5. A compound of the formula gen and CH3 CH3 C 0 (lower alkyl) -3-(lower alkyl) 5 radicals, and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals.

Q. Androst-3-ene-5/3,17fl4dio1. 3. A compound of the formula 6. Androst-3-ene-5p,17fi-diol 17-acetate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,020,296 2/62 Nomine et a1. 260-397.45

OTHER REFERENCES McKenna ef a1.: Chem. Soc., J. (London), 1959, H pp. 2504-2509.

4. 17u-methy1androst-3-ene-5}3,l7fl-ldiol. LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,183,253 May 11, 1965 Paul D. Klimstra It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, lines 42 to 52, the formula should appear as shown below instead of as in the patent:

column 3, line 38, for "-methylandrost3ene" read methyl androst-Zs-ene- Signed and sealed this 28th day of June 1966,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J9 BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 